Mac + Logic Studio + V-Synth GT = dream setup
only when you squeeze it all inside the fantomX...
No more new workstations THE END
Re: No more new workstations THE END
It's even smaller if it's a laptop.
Re: No more new workstations THE END
I am a true gear head, but I am starting to realize that maybe software has finally arrived. DAW + unlimited sounds + workflow = laptop and midi controller.
To beat that roland will to put all of their technologies under one hood, VS + Fantom + V-Synth. But that box would cost 8 grand and would still suffer due to lack of updates.
So it still makes the laptop + controller the better and cheaper option. Plus software is consistently updated.
To beat that roland will to put all of their technologies under one hood, VS + Fantom + V-Synth. But that box would cost 8 grand and would still suffer due to lack of updates.
So it still makes the laptop + controller the better and cheaper option. Plus software is consistently updated.
Re: No more new workstations THE END
Rom is getting cheaper all the time, it would be cool if you could take your Fantom in, and for a couple of hunderd pounds:
1. Roland Replace the Rom to 300 megs, with the choice of expansion cards you want
2. Roland also give the opperating system a much needed update
ps
Mastering setup
Split freq 4000hz/200hz
HI 9 ratio 1
MID 0 ratio 1
LOW 3 ratio 1
Iam decorating right now, so my Fantom is going through average HIFI speakers. Sounds alright to me, Iam i wrong?
1. Roland Replace the Rom to 300 megs, with the choice of expansion cards you want
2. Roland also give the opperating system a much needed update
ps
Mastering setup
Split freq 4000hz/200hz
HI 9 ratio 1
MID 0 ratio 1
LOW 3 ratio 1
Iam decorating right now, so my Fantom is going through average HIFI speakers. Sounds alright to me, Iam i wrong?
Re: No more new workstations THE END
In my view the single biggest advantage with hardware gear is in stability because the device has a limited number of functions to perform. But if hardware is not complemented with rock solid firmware, or if there are frequent firmware updates which introduce bugs without fixing old problems, then we all would be better off with software on a notebook computer.
Hardware has its place, but that niche may disappear if manufacturers don't take more care in the software side. Ok, it costs more money to really test and prove software. So spend the money and make hardware gear stand apart from software.
Or let the whole specialised synth market disappear.
CHeers,
B
Hardware has its place, but that niche may disappear if manufacturers don't take more care in the software side. Ok, it costs more money to really test and prove software. So spend the money and make hardware gear stand apart from software.
Or let the whole specialised synth market disappear.
CHeers,
B
Re: No more new workstations THE END
I tried the laptop thing for a year because of its obvious advantages: massive access to huge sound and sample sources in connection with all effects you could want.
Two reasons drove me back to hardware
a) I want the same sounds with live band like in the home studio, no complicated "translating" between very different setups.
And in live play I still prefer the direct use of hardware instrument usability over the masterkeyboard-notebook combination: hardware is not as vulnerable to malfunction (ever restarted a VST Host with 1Gb of loaded samples or even the whole OS during rehearsal or live play?), and hardware keyboards offer much more direct, haptic controlling than mouse use will ever do. You can use additional controllers with masterkeyboards, yes, but most times a hardware instrument with a good layout still offers a more direct control over sounds and playing setups.
b) even in home studio situations it is rather a mixture of basic hardware use and extended sequencer functions that helps me develop ideas than a pure software handling would do. I am not sure why, but again I guess that the haptic factor (yes, dealing with knobs and sliders directly above or around the keys) is quite essential besides what you hear.
Like Quinxx I regard it as essential to have the shortest possible way from 'inner listening' to ideas, towards a hearable sketch coming close. At this stage I am not at all interested in all the options of complex software, but rather in fast access to the most fundamental sound, record and edit functions.
I like software only for refining all that later, or for fast overviews over sounds, samples etc. But while *playing* I always prefer a hardware workstation environment - as long as it is powerful enough and not getting *too* far away from software flexibility.
At the moment this is still working for me with the FantomX7 together with an AccessVirus TI Keyboard: These two instruments plus a B3 clone are my whole idea workshop and live gear at the same time. But the Fantom X7 really needs a heavy update to stay in that league...
Two reasons drove me back to hardware
a) I want the same sounds with live band like in the home studio, no complicated "translating" between very different setups.
And in live play I still prefer the direct use of hardware instrument usability over the masterkeyboard-notebook combination: hardware is not as vulnerable to malfunction (ever restarted a VST Host with 1Gb of loaded samples or even the whole OS during rehearsal or live play?), and hardware keyboards offer much more direct, haptic controlling than mouse use will ever do. You can use additional controllers with masterkeyboards, yes, but most times a hardware instrument with a good layout still offers a more direct control over sounds and playing setups.
b) even in home studio situations it is rather a mixture of basic hardware use and extended sequencer functions that helps me develop ideas than a pure software handling would do. I am not sure why, but again I guess that the haptic factor (yes, dealing with knobs and sliders directly above or around the keys) is quite essential besides what you hear.
Like Quinxx I regard it as essential to have the shortest possible way from 'inner listening' to ideas, towards a hearable sketch coming close. At this stage I am not at all interested in all the options of complex software, but rather in fast access to the most fundamental sound, record and edit functions.
I like software only for refining all that later, or for fast overviews over sounds, samples etc. But while *playing* I always prefer a hardware workstation environment - as long as it is powerful enough and not getting *too* far away from software flexibility.
At the moment this is still working for me with the FantomX7 together with an AccessVirus TI Keyboard: These two instruments plus a B3 clone are my whole idea workshop and live gear at the same time. But the Fantom X7 really needs a heavy update to stay in that league...
Re: No more new workstations THE END
IMHO, the future is always alot of the old merged with some of the new. I believe that the Receptor is a part of that future. A combination of our faithful hardware syths, with their rock solid stability and added functionality of softsynths onboard is the answer. The real problem with synths is that they are very complex to design. This plus a little want to make money on proprietary tech is the real reason you see our present synths with such out-dated technology such as S-DRAM , usb 1.0 , pc cards , etc etc... . The development cycle for these synths are anywhere from 2-7 years... so by the time the thing is on the shelves whatever memory / modern tech used to concieve the device are out of date.
Ultimatly their will never be a be all end all synth. Technology will continue to advance and we will do what we have always done. Find new ways to make music out of anything we can. It will be a very lucky company that finnaly figures out how to make all the aspects of music technology seamlessly meld together...... and on that day, I will be the first inline!
Ultimatly their will never be a be all end all synth. Technology will continue to advance and we will do what we have always done. Find new ways to make music out of anything we can. It will be a very lucky company that finnaly figures out how to make all the aspects of music technology seamlessly meld together...... and on that day, I will be the first inline!
Re: No more new workstations THE END
Unfortunately there aren't direct replacements for hardware synths like Fantoms in software realm. I mean there don't exist anything comparable to even Juno-G considering small memory footprint and quickness. No... there is Korg Legacy Collections but I'd like to have something more "current". And without any stinking dongles, shady copy protection schemes and alike.
I wonder what someone could achieve if Fantoms' firmware cou
Are you kidding!???
More than you can imagine
but thats not going to happen unless some one hacks the firmware.
Just think about it
What do you think could be done if you have a
1) Controller console (assignable)=fantom
2) Sampler
3) Drum machine
4) 128 voice synth
5) 16 pads
6) Keys
7) sound card with stereo(headphone) out and 4 assignable mono outs.
8) +MFX console
and you could customize together your own software to control them all what do you thing you could do..
(only limited by your imagination)
However in this case its limited by Rolands..
More than you can imagine
but thats not going to happen unless some one hacks the firmware.
Just think about it
What do you think could be done if you have a
1) Controller console (assignable)=fantom
2) Sampler
3) Drum machine
4) 128 voice synth
5) 16 pads
6) Keys
7) sound card with stereo(headphone) out and 4 assignable mono outs.
8) +MFX console
and you could customize together your own software to control them all what do you thing you could do..
(only limited by your imagination)
However in this case its limited by Rolands..
Re: No more new workstations THE END
Quinnx, most people's imagination is very limited.only limited by your imagination
Re: No more new workstations THE END
Hey thats cheating.. 
